Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am so happy to feature Thread Herrings today!
Thread Herrings (A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)
by Lea Wait
About the Book
Thread Herrings (A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Maine
Kensington (October 30, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 149671671X
ISBN-13: 978-1496716712
Digital ASIN: B079KSZ92D
Angie’s first auction may turn out to be her last—when she bids on a coat of arms that someone would literally kill to possess . . .
Tagging along to an estate sale with her fellow Needlepointer, antique shop owner Sarah Byrne, Angie Curtis impulsively bids on a tattered embroidery of a coat of arms. When she gets her prize back home to Haven Harbor, she discovers a document from 1757 behind the framed needlework—a claim for a child from a foundling hospital. Intrigued, Angie is determined to find the common thread between the child and the coat of arms.
Accepting her reporter friend Clem Walker’s invitation to talk about her find on the local TV news, Angie makes an appeal to anyone who might have information. Instead, both women receive death threats. When Clem is found shot to death in a parking lot, Angie fears her own life may be in jeopardy. She has to unravel this historical mystery—or she may be the next one going, going . . . gone . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Finding treasures at auctions and estate sales is part of the fun, but for Angie Curtis it means MURDER! Her friend, a television reporter is dead and Angie is getting threatened that she will be next.
Antique shop owner Sarah Byrne takes Angie to her first auction and she is drawn to a needlework coat of arms. When no one else bids she raises her paddle and takes it home. She takes it out of the frame to see if it can be restored but she finds a real mystery instead, a claim from 1757 for a child from a foundling hospital. While researching to see if the child is connected to the family from the auction she runs into Clem Walker who suggests they do a piece on the local news to see if one of the viewers may have information. Angie agrees and even hosts a party so her family and friends can watch her on television.
Clem plans a trip to visit Angie in Haven Harbor to discuss the calls the station received. But Clem doesn’t make the meeting, instead, her body is found. Angie knows to find Clem’s killer she has to find who is connected to the coat of arms. The trouble is to keep her safe she is hiding out and it’s hard to investigate anything stuck in a house.
There is so much I enjoyed about this story. It had a totally different feel. The Mainely Needlepointers didn’t do hardly any needle pointing but one member of the group, Ruth, is a key player in solving this mystery. Also, Angie accepts that her life is truly in danger after a hairraising event and actually listens to the police and moves to Patrick’s secure home until the killer is caught. As long as she has her cell phone and laptop she can keep investigating and pass along what she finds to the police.
At the core of the story are two prominent Maine families. I love the way 79-year-old erotica author Ruth Hopkins knows her way around the genealogy sites. She delves in and finds as much as she can about the families giving Angie plenty of clues and red herrings to sort through.
All of Ms. Wait’s characters are interesting, fleshed out and realistic. Most of the recurring characters are very engaging. Patrick is starting to mesh with the rest but still has some work to do. The closer he and Angie get the more he becomes more real to me.
The story is pretty fast-paced and filled with suspense. Key characters are truly in danger and I found myself actually holding my breath waiting to read the actual outcome. I know I was reading much faster from about the midpoint on. The author’s descriptions of each person, place, and even the weather were fantastic. She pulls readers right into this story and holds them tight until the final page. OMG, my heart was racing at the ending!
Before my accident auctions and needlepoint were two of my favorite things. Finding samplers and other needlework treasures at auctions always made for a great day. I love that both meshed together in this book.
This book reads very well all in its own but I always recommend reading series in order to really get to know the characters.
This is a wonderful addition to this series. The next book in the series, Thread on Arrival
Links to my reviews for other books in this series:
Twisted Threads
Threads of Evidence
Thread and Gone
Dangling by a Thread
Tightening the Threads
Thread the Halls
About the Author
Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine. A fourth-generation antique dealer and the author of the Agatha-nominated Antique Print Mystery series, she loves all things antiques and Maine. She also writes historical novels for young people set in (where else?) nineteenth-century Maine. Visit her at leawait.com.
Follow Lea on Facebook and GoodReads
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo
Click on a cover to order from Amazon.
Praise for Thread Herrings (A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)
by Lea Wait
As the action heats up in Thread Herrings, you will find yourself riveted. You cannot help but keep reading to discover how the story plays out.
~The Avid Reader
Ms. Wait has crafted a tale of Murder and History that keeps you turning the pages until you sigh and put the book down when you have finished!
~A Wytch’s Book Review Blog
The narrative is well written, filled with fascinating historical detail, and flows at a steady pace. There’s no fluff or filler; every word is important.
~The Power of Words
I admit I was expecting a quick mystery with some fun dialogue and a bit of romance. The author surprised me and took this a step further. There’s a mystery in a mystery, danger around every corner and she really tested the boundaries of her characters.
~FUONLYKNEW
THREAD HERRINGS was a story I couldn’t tear myself away from. A true page-turner of a mystery, with questions stemming from past to present, I just became more and more engrossed.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I really like this series, and I’m looking forward to reading Thread Herrings.
I love the title.
Thank you for your review on “Thread Herrings by Lea Wait. Love going to auctions and love cozies so you know I love this cover! Can’t wait for the opportunity to read this great sounding book which is on my TBR list.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thank you for your review. This book looks like another great story in this series.
Thank you for the review! This was a fun book to write — and I hope a fun one to read!
I love this series! Thank you for the chance
I suspect that your review describes just how I will feel when I read it. I got it but it will be a few days before I get to it. Can’t wait.
I love not only the title of this book but also the needlepoint component as I do needlepoint and counted cross stitch. Thanks for the chance to win!
This sounds excellent–I’d love to read it.
Yet another new-to-me author, with a most interesting sounding series. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
great series!!!!